Decision 38 COM 7A.25

Tomb of the Askia (Mali) (C 1139)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/7A.Add,
2. Recalling Decision 37 COM 7A.20, adopted at its 37th session (Phnom Penh, 2013),
3. Commends the State Party for having organized the joint UNESCO/Mali mission of 11 February 2014, despite difficult security conditions;
4. Notes with satisfaction the preparation of a rehabilitation and reconstruction strategy for the damaged cultural heritage of North Mali, that includes the rehabilitation of the Tomb of Askia;
5. Requests the State Party to undertake the necessary actions to enable the urgent detailed architectural diagnostic to take place, to better identify all the weak structural points of the two mosques, and urges the commencement of the necessary conservation work before the next rainy season, security conditions permitting;
6. Expresses its concern that the management plan prepared for the period 2002-2007 has not yet been updated, and the activities of the Gao Cultural Mission have not yet recommenced, despite the nomination of a new manager, due to lack of work space and equipment and also due to the security situation in the region;
7. Further requests the State Party to proceed with the revision of the 2002-2007 management plan in close consultation with the Management Committee of the property;
8. Thanks all the countries and institutions that have financially contributed to the UNESCO-Mali Action Plan adopted on 18 February 2013 in Paris, and more particularly Switzerland, European Union, International Association of Francophone Mayors (AIMF), Norway, The Netherlands, Kingdom of Bahrain, African World Heritage Fund (AWHF), Croatia, Andorra and Mauritius;
9. Requests furthermore that the State Party invite a joint UNESCO/ICOMOS/ICCROM mission to evaluate the general state of conservation of the property and the progress achieved in the rehabilitation of all the components of the property, prepare all the corrective measures, as well as a Desired state of conservation for removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger;
10. Requests moreover the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2015, a report on the state of conservation of the property including the implementation of the above-mentioned points, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 39th session in 2015;
11. Decides to retain the Tomb of Askia (Mali) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.